From 1741,
weighing machines were kept at toll gates. By 1766, turnpike roads
had to be at least 30 feet wide; hedges and fences thereon had to
be taken down by their owners. Cartways to markets had to be at
least 20 feet wide, and horseways 3 (later 8) feet wide. There
were ditches, drains, and gutters to carry off water. Names and
abodes of owners were to be put on carriages, wagons, and carts or
forfeit 2-5 pounds, except for carriages or coaches of a nobleman
or gentleman for his private use or those drawn by only one horse
or two oxen, or those with wide wheels and a light load. There
were town name signs, direction posts, and milestones. In 1773,
the Surveyors and the Commissioners of Turnpikes were given
authority to requisition local men, carts and draught animals for
compulsory labor, or money instead, in maintaining the roads and
making new ditches and drains. They could take any local sand,
gravel, chalk, or stone from waste or common land or, if not
needed by and satisfaction is made to the owner, from enclosed
land. The surveyor was to be chosen locally for a year and could
be given an allowance. New roads required the consent of the
landowners and a negotiated price.
A driver of a carriage, wagon, or cart on the public highway who
by negligence or misbehavior causes any hurt or damage to a person
or any other carriage or hinders free passage of any other
carriage shall forfeit up to 20s.
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